“I sense that I’m having a strange, unknown experience. And it helps me to be closer to the feelings of those who suffer, to feel more intimate with them, even with just one word.”
[私は未知の経験をしているって思っているの。そのおかげで、もうちょっと苦しんでいる人たちの気持ちに寄り添えたり、言葉ひとつにももっと気持ちが込められるようになったりするんじゃないかなぁ]。
My friend wrote this as she moved through the end stages of lung cancer. Today, perhaps we can understand a little of her feelings. Strange and unknown experiences can bring beginner’s mind, seeing life in new and refreshing ways. We might wonder what it's like to be in another's situation and understand better how they live. This can be the source of compassion, feeling empathy with all beings and practicing loving kindness.